Early on in the documentary “The Dog Doc,” one of the veterinarians working at the Smith Ridge clinic in South Salem, N.Y., mentions that each animal who comes into the clinic is blood tested and offered a nutrition plan based on the results. It’s the first time in “The Dog Doc” that the standards of care practiced at Smith Ridge deliver a jolt. In this compelling film, it’s not the medical miracles that most impress. Instead, the movie makes its biggest impact with treatments that feel like common sense.
The director Cindy Meehl focuses her film on Smith Ridge, and on Dr. Marty Feldstein, the veterinarian who started it. Feldstein has spent his life advocating for a more holistic approach to medicine in animals. He treats dogs with vitamins and supplements, and he focuses on diet and noninvasive surgeries as an alternative to the more aggressive treatments typically recommended within the profession.
Feldstein has been accused of eccentricity, and he is happy to dress the part. He has the affect and attire of a former hippy, wearing puppy-patterned coats for consultations. But Feldstein is serious about his work, and the film addresses the criticisms and accusations of quackery that have plagued him.
Though this sometimes means the movie adopts a defensive posture, it also means that the audience is clear on what the veterinarians at Spring Ridge recommend. This is not a homeopathic approach that denies the validity of vaccines or surgery, but rather one that sees those treatments within a larger plan for total health. For audiences who don’t mind being jealous of sick dogs, “The Dog Doc” is a thought-provoking look at what is missing from modern medicine — for animals and for people.
The Dog Doc
Not rated. Running time: 1 hour 41 minutes.
Source: Movies - nytimes.com
